Hi everyone!
If you’re in Vancouver over the next week or so I hope you get a chance to explore the Annual Downtown Eastside Heart of the City Festival, which runs from Oct 26th – Nov 6th this year. This year’s festival, in celebration of Vancouver’s 125th Anniversary, will feature over 100 events in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, profiling and featuring community arts and cultures. The 2011 theme is: “Telling Our Story, Building Our Community”, so check out the schedules at www.heartofthecityfestival.com website. There are several Nikkei-related events scheduled, reminding us that our community’s roots are in that area—a neighbourhood with a rich and varied history
A reminder that Friday, November 11th is Remembrance Day and many organizations and supporters will be participating in the Remembrance Day Service at the Japanese Canadian War Memorial Cenotaph in Stanley Park. The Service will be at 10:40 AM and I hope that everyone will attend this moving ceremony. It’s a chance to show our respect and appreciation to the Japanese Canadians who fought for Canada during the various Wars. Although our Japanese Canadian community endured many hardships before and during WWII, there were many who enlisted to fight for our democratic rights, freedoms, and world peace. A reception will follow the service at the Vancouver Rowing Club (in Stanley Park) with photographs and artificats, and donations will be gratefully accepted.
It is time to thank our many volunteers, donors, and advertisers who support us throughout the year especially during Powell Street Festival Salmon BBQ, Keiro-kai, Shinnen-kai, GVJCCA Golf Tournament, and many workshops. On Friday, November 18, from 6pm to 8pm at Nikkei Place, the GVJCCA will be thanking these important people during our annual Volunteer Appreciation Night. The GVJCCA holds many events during the course of the year and we are so reliant upon everyone in making each one a success. We hope you are able to attend and enjoy the company of your peers. Let us know if you are able to attend by calling the GVJCCA office at 604.777.5222 or by email at gvjcca@shaw.ca.
Just a reminder: the holiday season is coming up, and it is sometimes difficult to remember to renew your annual membership to the JCCA. If you could submit your renewal early, it would be appreciated as processing takes time during this period. Thank you for your consideration. Your membership fees help us to keep publishing The Bulletin, now in its 53rd year of continuous publication!
Ron Nishimura
President, GVJCCA
